How to Draw a Bento Box (Easy Step by Step)
A bento box is a lunch box with little rooms, and each room holds a different tasty treat. This drawing is built from rounded rectangles, a rounded triangle, domes and plain circles, so it is a great way to practice shapes you already know.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a bento box step by step
How to Draw a Bento Box · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The tray
Draw a big rectangle with very round corners for the outside of the box. Then draw a second, smaller rounded rectangle inside it, leaving an even gap all the way around.
Step 3: Dividing walls
Draw one straight line from the top of the inner box down to the bottom, a little left of the middle. Then draw a line going sideways from the middle of that wall to the right edge, making two small rooms on the right.
Step 4: The rice ball
In the left room, draw a big rounded triangle, like a hill with a soft top. Close the bottom with a short, rounded base.
Step 5: Seaweed and face
Draw a gentle curved line across the bottom of the rice ball for the seaweed wrapper. Add two dots for eyes in the middle of the rice ball and a small smile curve between them.
Step 6: Octopus heads
In the top right room, draw two upside-down U shapes side by side, like little domes. Leave the bottom of each one open for now.
Step 7: Octopus faces and legs
Inside each dome, add two dots for eyes and a short sideways line near the bottom. Then draw curly legs hanging down from that line, with the middle one a little longer.
Step 8: Cherry tomatoes
In the bottom right room, draw three circles in a row, letting them nearly touch.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your bento box? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a dumpling or how to draw an onigiri rice ball next.
Tips for drawing a bento box
- Draw the outer tray first and the inner tray second, keeping the gap between them about the same all the way around. This is the trickiest part, so go slowly on the corners.
- Make the rice ball a rounded triangle with a soft top, not a sharp point. Sketch it lightly first so you can fix the shape before pressing hard.
- Draw the three circles side by side so they nearly touch. Start with the middle one, then add one on each side.
Free bento box coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this bento box coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your bento box drawing
Try a brown or red tray, white rice with a dark green seaweed stripe, pink octopuses and red tomatoes. For a twist, give every treat a different silly face.
Bento box fun fact for kids
Bento is a Japanese word for a packed meal in a box. Many Japanese families make cute bento lunches where rice balls are shaped into smiling faces and tiny animals.
Questions about drawing a bento box
What shapes do I need to draw a bento box?
You need rounded rectangles for the tray, a rounded triangle for the rice ball, upside-down U shapes for the octopus heads and circles for the tomatoes. Straight lines make the walls between the rooms.
How do I make my bento box look cuter?
Give the rice ball and the octopuses small dot eyes and little smiles. Round, soft corners and tiny curly legs also make everything look friendlier.
How do I draw the octopus legs?
Draw short curly lines hanging down from the line near the bottom of each dome. Make the middle leg a bit longer and curl the tip of each one like a little hook.
